I heard that the weight loss miracle drug Tirzepatide, which is stronger than semaglutide, has also been launched?

Tirzepatide was developed by Eli Lilly and originated from laboratory research in early 2010. At that time, scientists found that dual agonists - especially the combination of GLP-1 and GIP receptors - might have great potential in the treatment of diabetes and obesity. After nearly ten years of research, development and clinical trials, Tirzepatide was finally approved by FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in 2022, and was approved for the treatment of obesity in November 2023, becoming the latest obesity drug approved by FDA.

The brand name used by Tirzepatide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes is Mounjaro, while the brand name used in the treatment of obesity is Zepbound. In May 2024, Tirzepatide was approved for marketing in China to improve the blood sugar control of adult patients with type 2 diabetes, and in July, it was approved for weight loss indication.

Tirzepatide is a dual agonist that acts on two key gut hormones - GLP-1 and GIP. GIP and GLP-1 are collectively known as "intestinal insulinotropic agents", which help control blood sugar levels by activating insulin secretion. Tirzepatide significantly increases insulin secretion and effectively reduces postprandial blood glucose fluctuations by activating GIP receptors.

In addition, the molecular design of Tirzepatide is based on the improvement of GIP sequence, which enhances the activity of GLP-1, making its GIP activity about 10 times that of GLP-1. Through the synergistic effect of these two receptors, Tirzepatide exhibits a stronger hypoglycemic effect than a single receptor agonist. Its dual excitatory effects also include slowing down gastric emptying, inhibiting glucagon release, improving insulin sensitivity, and aiding in weight management.

Comparison of the therapeutic effects of Tirzepatide and semaglutide

According to multiple important clinical trials, Tirzepatide has shown excellent performance in weight loss and metabolic control, especially when compared to other drugs such as semaglutide.

In the SURMUNT-1 Phase 3 clinical trial, patients treated with 15mg of teporte experienced an average weight loss of 22.5%, making it the first drug to demonstrate over 20% weight loss in a Phase 3 trial. In the SURBOUNT-3 clinical trial, obese or overweight patients without diabetes lost an average weight of 26.6% after treatment with Tirzepatide, setting a new record of drug weight loss